Baby-walker



1. M. 'BOWDEN.

BABY WALKER.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.23. I919.

1,332,461 Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

. f fizzxiu xgc- tness JOHN I/L IBOWDEN, OF ASPINWALL BOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

BABY-WALKER.

Application filed October 23, 1919.

To (aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN M. BownEN, a citizen of the United States, and residing in the borough of Aspinwall, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered new and useful Improvements in Baby-Walkers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in a new and improved baby walker.

The object which I have in view is the provision of an exercising device for an infant which will enable it to practice walking without danger of overexertion or injury to its back or limbs.

'Devices, for this purpose, consisting of a triangular or semi-circular frame on wheels, to be propelled by the infant, have been designed but these are unsuited for the purpose and also dangerous for they are likely to run away from the child. Particularly are they unsafe for outdoor use on uneven ground or slopes. Again the infant is likely to overexert itself in attempting to propel the device over grass, 8:0.

My improved baby walker is designed on an entirely different principle. Thus it is not a ri id, upright frame running on casters or w ieels which is of itself intended to furnish support for the infant, but, on the contrary, it consists of a frame, wheeled at one end to run along the ground or floor and provided with a handle or handles at the other end by means of which the frame may be held by the mother, or nurse, in an inclined position and propelled, while the child supports itself by clinging to the intermediate cross-bar of the frame.

Thus the child walks forward as the frame is propelled by the attendant, being supported by the frame, but not compelled or unnecessarily encouraged to overexert itself in trying to propel the frame.

In the accompanying drawings, which are merely intended to illustrate the principles of my invention without limiting the scope of the same to the construction shown, Figure 1 is an elevation showing an adult exercising a baby by means of my improved baby walker; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the baby walker held in a vertical position, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same.

The following is a detailed description of my improved babv walker as the same is illustrated in. the drawings.

A represents a pair of longitudinal mem- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

Serial no. 332,610.

bers whose front ends are provided with wheels B journaled on stub shafts C on the front ends of the members A. The memhere are held in rigid relationship by any convenient means, such as the cross brace D near their front end. Intermediate of their ends a cross rung E is provided, connecting the members A and intended to be grasped by the baby to support itself in the walking posture. The rear ends of the members A form a handle to be grasped by the adult attendant, thus supporting, as shown, the frame in substantially the angle illustrated.

The attendant has complete control over the device and can propel it over the ground at just the proper rate to suit the faltering and unsteady steps of the baby, permitting the baby, if it be old or strong enough, to exert just the safe amount of propelling force on the frame. If the baby stumbles or tends to fall the frame may be lowered slightly until the child regains its feet while clinging to the frame. Thus the child can be safely kept and exercised in the open air, its efforts to learn to walk being encouraged and assisted without danger of overdoing it or overworking the childs legs and back. It also provides an-entertaining manner in which to amuse the infant and teach it self reliance.

Although primarily intended for babies, my walker may be made in proper size for the use of adult invalids, or those whose infirmities prevent exercise by walking unassisted.

The frame may be made of wood or metal, as may be desired, but I prefer wood, owing to its light weight.

What I desire to claim is:

1. A baby walker consisting of a frame provided with wheels at one end adapted to run along the ground, means at the other end adapted to be grasped by the attendant, so that the frame will be held in a rearwardly and upwardly inclined position and propelled by pushing, and means intermediate of the frame and adapted to be grasped by the baby for support in the walking posture, substantially as described.

2. A baby walker consisting of a frame comprised of a pair of longitudinal bars rigidly connected together, wheels at one end of the frame adapted to run along the ground, handles at the other end of the frame adapted to be grasped by the attendant to support the frame in one inclined position and to push the frame along on ant to support the frame in one inclined said Wheels, and means intermediate of the position and to push the frame alon on frame adapted to be grasped by the-baby said Wheels, and a cross rung intermediate to support the latter in Walking position. of the frame adapted to be grasped by the 5 3. A baby Walker consisting of a frame baby to support the latter in Walking pos- 15 comprised of a pair of longitudinal bars ture. rigidly connected together, Wheels atone Signed at Pittsburgh, Pa., this 21st day end of the frame adapted to run along the of Oct., 1919. ground, handles at the other end of the 1 1G frameadapted to be grasped by the attend- J OHN M. BOWDEN. 

